952. bebélos

Lexicon

bebélos: Profane, ungodly, irreverent

Original Word: βέβηλος
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: bebélos
Pronunciation: beh'-bay-los
Phonetic Spelling: (beb'-ay-los)
Definition: Profane, ungodly, irreverent
Meaning: permitted to be trodden, accessible.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

profane person.

From the base of basis and belos (a threshold); accessible (as by crossing the door-way), i.e. (by implication, of Jewish notions) heathenish, wicked -- profane (person).

see GREEK basis

HELPS Word-studies

952 bébēlos (an adjective, derived from bainō, "go" and bēlos, "a threshold to enter a building") – properly, improper, unauthorized entry – literally, "crossing a threshold" which profanes because of improper entrance.

952 /bébēlos ("profane because of improper entrance") refers to people unfit to access (know) God, because they approach Him apart from faith. See also 949 (bébaios).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from bélos (a threshold)
Definition
permitted to be trodden, by impl. unhallowed
NASB Translation
godless person (1), profane (1), worldly (3).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 952: βέβηλος

βέβηλος, βεβηλον (ΒΑΩ, βαίνω, βηλός threshold);

1. accessible, lawful to be trodden; properly, used of places; hence,

2. profane, equivalent to חֹל (i. e. unhallowed, common), Leviticus 10:10; 1 Samuel 21:4; opposed to ἅγιος (as in (Ezekiel 22:26); Philo, vit. Moys. iii., § 18): 1 Timothy 4:7; 1 Timothy 6:20; 2 Timothy 2:16; of men, profane i. e. ungodly: 1 Timothy 1:9; Hebrews 12:16. (Often in Greek writings from Aeschylus down.) (Cf. Trench, § 101.)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the root βένθος (benthos), meaning "depth" or "profane."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The concept of βέβηλος in the Greek New Testament can be related to several Hebrew terms that convey the idea of profaneness or irreverence. These include:
• חָלַל (chalal) • Strong's Hebrew 2490, meaning "to profane, defile, pollute."
• זָר (zar) • Strong's Hebrew 2114, meaning "strange, foreign, profane."
• טָמֵא (tame) • Strong's Hebrew 2931, meaning "unclean, impure."

These Hebrew terms similarly emphasize the distinction between the holy and the profane, underscoring the importance of maintaining purity and reverence in one's relationship with God.

Usage: The word βέβηλος appears in the New Testament to denote actions, behaviors, or individuals that are considered irreverent or contrary to the holiness expected of believers. It is often used in the context of warning against ungodly behavior or teachings.

Context: The term βέβηλος is used in the New Testament to highlight the contrast between the sacred and the profane. It is often employed in pastoral epistles to caution believers against engaging in or being influenced by irreverent and godless chatter or teachings. For instance, in 1 Timothy 4:7, Paul advises Timothy to "reject irreverent, silly myths" (BSB), emphasizing the importance of focusing on godliness rather than profane distractions. Similarly, in 1 Timothy 6:20, Timothy is urged to "avoid irreverent, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of so-called knowledge" (BSB), which underscores the danger of being led astray by teachings that lack divine truth.

The use of βέβηλος serves as a reminder to maintain the sanctity of one's faith and to discern between what is holy and what is common or defiled. It calls believers to a higher standard of living, one that reflects the holiness of God and avoids the contamination of worldly influences. The term also appears in Hebrews 12:16, where Esau is described as "profane" for trading his birthright for a single meal, illustrating the folly of valuing temporal, earthly desires over spiritual inheritance.

Forms and Transliterations

βέβηλε βέβηλοι βεβηλοις βεβήλοις βέβηλον βεβηλος βέβηλος βεβήλου βεβηλους βεβήλους βεβήλων bebelois bebēlois bebḗlois bebelos bebēlos bébelos bébēlos bebelous bebēlous bebḗlous

Englishman's Concordance

1 Timothy 1:9 Adj-DMP
GRK: ἀνοσίοις καὶ βεβήλοις πατρολῴαις καὶ
NAS: for the unholy and profane, for those who kill
KJV: and profane, for murderers of fathers
INT: for [the] unholy and profane for murderers of fathers and

1 Timothy 4:7 Adj-AMP
GRK: τοὺς δὲ βεβήλους καὶ γραώδεις
NAS: But have nothing to do with worldly fables
KJV: But refuse profane and old wives'
INT: but profane and silly

1 Timothy 6:20 Adj-AFP
GRK: ἐκτρεπόμενος τὰς βεβήλους κενοφωνίας καὶ
NAS: to you, avoiding worldly [and] empty chatter
KJV: avoiding profane [and] vain babblings,
INT: avoiding profane empty babblings and

2 Timothy 2:16 Adj-AFP
GRK: τὰς δὲ βεβήλους κενοφωνίας περιίστασο
NAS: But avoid worldly [and] empty chatter,
KJV: shun profane [and] vain babblings:
INT: and [the] worldly empty babblings stand aloof from

Hebrews 12:16 Adj-NMS
GRK: πόρνος ἢ βέβηλος ὡς Ἠσαῦ
NAS: immoral or godless person like Esau,
KJV: or profane person, as
INT: fornicator or profane person as Esau

Strong's Greek 952
5 Occurrences

βεβήλοις — 1 Occ.
βέβηλος — 1 Occ.
βεβήλους — 3 Occ.